The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-09-01
THE DIAMOND RING,
l. rom the Whitehall (London) Review.

rFom the Whitehall (LondOn) Review.
Eyes; it belonged to poor Turenne,"
said Wyse, as he pulled the ring from
his finger and handed it to us for in.
spect:on. "He left it to me by his
will, and l keep it in memory of one
of the best actors and one of the best
men ever knew"
Meanwhile the ring was passing
from hand to hand, and the univers.
al verdict was that none OF US had
ever seen a finer stone.
'Turenne Was rather g. wealthy
man." said ono of our little circle,
''but l didn't think he could have al
forded or would have cared to spend
so much money on an onament as
that ring must have COST"
HE wanted it for some special pur-
pose which afterward fell through"
rejoined Wyse. II know all about it,
for l bought it for him myself, l had
quite little adventure on the occas-
ion."
'"Tell us the story" we cried.
"Well. said Wyse, taking a Dull at
his CT gar and settling himself back in
his chair, lit is good many years
ago now. ! was playing high comey
characters at the old Princess and
as had been working very hard
set of for the south of France as soon
az the season closed. 1t happened
that Turenne (who had proved
himself true friend to me) wanted a
good diamond for purpose l needn't
trouble you with; and before l set
out on my travels l told him that if l
met with a particularly fine one at q
moderate price would buy it for him,
and he, peing too busy at the time to
attend to the matter himself, gladly
consented. was staying at Nice,
when there came to the hotel one of
those tall loquacious Americans who
are now so plentiful all over Europe.
There seemed to be nothing objection
al about the man, except that he was
vulgar and eternally talking about
tho United States.
ION the evening after his arrival
a few of us happened to be sitting in
the billiard-room, and by some
chance or other the conversation
turned on the subject OF diamonds.
"I don't know much about the
business myself said the American,
but I'm told by good judges that
thar's about as good stone as you'll
see in a days round
$50 saying he drew a ring from his
finger and handed it to me, who hap
pened to sit next him. 1t was, indeed
4 magnificent brilliant. set in g. ring
of q peculiar pattern. When the lamp
was removed it seemed to gather into
itself the light out OF the semi-dark-
ness, and glittered like a bit of broken
glass in the sunshine. What is it
worth? asked one OF the men present.
"'That can hardly tell you,' an
swered the American, 'seein' friend
at Buenos sent it to me direct. and
had it cut myself. But I'm tired OF
it., and seldom wear it,
"'Would you sell it?' 1 inquired,
out of curiosity.
81 might answered the American,
especially rs this European trip is
cleaning me out faster than I expect.
ed; and don't want to go home to
Vermont skinned as neatly as a cod.
Yes, yes. you may have that dia-
mond tor ESQ OF your money, stran.
ger, and dirt cheap at that, Ishou1d
say:
IL looked at the stone again, and
the longer l looked at it the more
liked it. Eighty pounds was quite As
much as my friend wished to pay for
stone, but what if l could get one
tor him worth f1OO for ESQ?
"'Wlll you trader he asked.
"'I am not judge of diamonds my
SELL said I, returning the stone to it's
owner. Pm afraid couldn't with
out taking a lapidary's opinion as to
Its value
"All right" said the American care
lessly, IF you care to hev it we can
60 around to q jewelers. in the morn.
ing. And if he puts lower value on
the stones than did you can hev it
at the price he names, If you like to
buy. can't say fairer than that"
1.-THE offer did, indeed. seem a very
fair one and went to bed that night
determined to secure the jewel for my
friend if the expert reported favor
ably of it.
Next morning the American and I
strolled down to the shop of the chief
jeweler of the town; an9 when we en-
tered the place l first OF all paid my
footing by purchasing some trjfe, and
then, taking the ring from the hand of
my new acquaintance, l placed it be-
fore the jeweler and asked him to give
me an opinion as to its value.
"A YER fine stone, sir" said the
Frenchman; i congratulate you on
the possession of so fine q diamond
"1t is not mine; it belongs to my
friend here.
"Ah! If that be the case, then con-
graduate heem.' said the polite
tradesman. "'What do you suppose
it is worth?' I asked.
"'Oh, it is difficult to say said the
Frenchman, struggling his shoulders.
Won gentleman sinks Won price NOR
foe him, anottec Sinks
"'Yes; but what would you give if
you were to buy it? Would you give
1900 francs?'
':The jeweler did not reply for a few
seconds. He popped his microscope
once more into his eye, held the ring
up to the light, examined the setting,
and fell to making elaborate calcula-
tions with pencil on sheet of blot.
ting. paper.
81 do not often buy such large
stones, but willgive you 2, 500 francs
for this one he finally said to the
American.
"The Yankee did not reply; and the
Frenchman, assuming that his offer
was accepted, placed the ring on lit.
tie ledge behind him and opened his
desk for hts check. book.
Not so fast, said Brother Jona-
than; the diamonds not for sale.'
1.-Two thousand six hundred
frances was the Frenchman's reply.
1.-The American shook his head.
Seven hundred-eight hundred!'
"'No!
"Nine hunnred-three thousand
frances! That is my last offer. Pause,
1 beg of you, Monsieur, before you re-
fuse it. 1t is a large sum-three thou
sand francs, and, as if he were con-